Complete festival · Alvin, Texas
Alvin College
October 12–November 6, 2026
Experience all 74 selected films across four viewing programs, together with the physical-art exhibition.
3110 Mustang RoadAlvin, Texas 77511
Film · Art · Community · Change
Stories for a more sustainable world.
An international, juried festival bringing filmmakers, artists, students, and communities together through stories that illuminate environmental and social sustainability.
Attend in 2026
Two communities. Two distinct experiences.
The complete 2026 festival takes place at Alvin College. William & Mary hosts one special screening of Underwater Projects.
Alvin, Texas 77511
One special screening · Williamsburg, Virginia
William & Mary
October 29, 2026
Underwater Projects is the only 2026 festival film screening in Williamsburg.
Sixth annual edition
The 2026 Festival
Featured topic: Water and Water Usage
In 2026, Sustainable Stories explores water—its cultural significance, ecological fragility, and the ways our collective use shapes local and global futures.
October 12 – November 6, 2026
Alvin College
Alvin, Texas
Films and visual art presented through a main projection, animation, video art, and an outward-facing screening display.
Curated by Angela Durón-Larson, Michael Brims, and Claudia Trujillo.
October 29, 2026
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia
A special screening of Underwater Projects, presented with the Arts at William & Mary and extending the festival’s conversation across communities.
Co-curated by Michael Brims, Eric Despard, and Brent Kaup.
944submissions
74selected films
35countries
10:46:14screening time
Alvin College only · Four viewing experiences
The 2026 Alvin program
All films and physical artworks listed below are presented at Alvin College. The only work from this program also screening in Williamsburg is Underwater Projects on October 29.
Main Projection
16 films · 3:02:49
Hallway Screen 2
13 animated films · 1:09:29
Video Art
17 works · 1:54:02
Hallway Screen 1
20 films · 2:33:50
Main Projection16 films · 3:02:49
- Beans Our Food3:04 · Kisembo Goodwin · Uganda
- Countercurrent3:16 · Miguel Ariera · Portugal
- Lady19:18 · Daniela Ortiz, Olivia Speaker · United States
- Growing Resilience43:00 · Nina Bloau · Ireland
- Underwater Projects28:20 · Think 100% FILMS · United States · Also screening at William & Mary on October 29
- Ivy4:17 · Matt Robinson · United Kingdom
- Jubilee Shoals6:53 · Constantinos Anastasios Christou · Cyprus
- Knots of Wood5:54 · Flavio Madeira · Brazil
- Risky Routes6:00 · Jonas Steiner · Switzerland
- Shadow of Return4:59 · Sezer Baydar · Türkiye
- Lu Salinaru5:20 · Alessandro Montalbano · Italy
- All You Need Is Less8:18 · Daniela Aurora Echevarria, Nicolò Dugnani · Italy
- Healer Wild Land8:50 · Andres Felipe Velasco · Colombia
- Water I3:42 · David Felipe Aranguren Henao · Colombia
- Antipode25:00 · Bojan Sekuloski · North Macedonia
- Sumak Kawsai6:20 · Students of the Multimedia Project of Escola Parque · Brazil
Hallway Screen 2 · Animation13 films · 1:09:29
- Baba and Basho3:54 · Nina Sereda · Russian Federation
- Clown Act5:14 · Mina Armin · Austria
- Daydream Encounters1:08 · Ivy Isibor · Austria
- Nie2:24 · Janka Kočíšek · Austria
- O₂ vs Smog1:24 · Maria Saveleva · North Macedonia
- Paper Worlds: The Journey3:01 · Cuneyt Ozturk · Türkiye
- Chiribiquete, Jaguar Heart10:45 · Fátima Correa · Colombia
- The Nightmare of Space1:42 · Wang Pin · China
- Whispering Grass & Silver Bones1:17 · Wang Pin · China
- The Great Basin15:00 · Eric Weeks · United States
- Machina10:40 · Adrian Kulawik · Poland, United States
- The History of Pitiful Humanity10:31 · Young Chan Jeon · South Korea, United States
- Riehpovuotna – Repparfjorden3:35 · Claire Baumgarth · France, Norway
Video Art17 works · 1:54:02
- Cataclysm5:00 · Mart Raukas · Estonia
- Clover4:45 · Burak Saka · Türkiye
- Compost5:00 · Ana Baer, Rocio Luna · Mexico, United States
- ?-O futuro a Deus Pertence1:00 · Luciano Irrthum · Brazil
- Echo6:38 · Michael Verderber · United States
- Kin5:19 · Ana Baer, Rocio Luna · Mexico, United States
- Sympoiesis6:35 · Ana Baer, Rocio Luna · Mexico, United States
- The Delta3:29 · Georgios Karampotakis · Greece
- Ephemeral8:18 · Daniela Aurora Echevarria, Nicolò Dugnani · Italy
- Heathen2:24 · Liselore Frowijn · Netherlands
- The Patient2:41 · Nuno Barreto · Portugal
- Nian Fi Friuli, a Rural Symphony10:00 · Rodrigo Del Canto · Argentina
- Stitched in Our DNA10:50 · Maria Labib · Egypt
- The End of Winter9:55 · Gianluca D'Elia · Italy
- Surge13:46 · Daniela Goncalves, Brian Tortora · United States
- Your Choice, Our Future7:53 · Alba Santano Santos · United Kingdom
- Itzan9:30 · Benjamin Gwinneth, Tim Thomasson · Canada
Hallway Screen 120 films · 2:33:50
- Paani3:36 · Akshita Vashisht · United States
- Cut Short1:39 · Irene Nanou · Greece
- Farruco Y Murillo2:00 · Jose Luis Rodriguez Novoa · Spain
- Irony4:15 · Bijo Varghese · India
- Paradox6:53 · Constantinos Anastasios Christou · Cyprus
- Strengthen Your Discovery1:30 · Waliu Eshinlokun Adeleke · Nigeria
- Ephemeral8:18 · Daniela Aurora Echevarria, Nicolò Dugnani · Italy
- The Island4:59 · Mahmut Taş · Türkiye
- Thistlegorm 1941. A Ballad in the Depths of Time8:12 · Massimiliano Santoro · Italy
- Mitzi's Bull Shark Dive Log3:18 · Mark Ostrick · United States
- My Wonderful World4:00 · Ananya Manikandan · United Arab Emirates
- Guardian of the Well5:00 · Bentley Brown, Tahir Ben Mahamat Zene · United Arab Emirates
- Debt2:28 · Ali Momeni · Iran
- The Scarf4:07 · Roaa Shammas, Sara Shammas · Brazil
- Seychelles: Soul of the Ocean14:27 · Maxwell Polimanti, Adriana Farias · Seychelles
- From the Mountain to the Sea16:13 · Adlai Salcedo · Canada, Colombia
- Of Song and Earth11:50 · Frank Jean Fazzio · United States
- The Day We Saved the Zoo25:00 · Madeleine Hetherton-Miau · Australia
- Buffalo: An American Restoration16:49 · Andre Leo · United Kingdom
- The Wild Mile: A River Reborn9:30 · House of Bug Productions · United States
Physical Art Exhibition57 works · Alvin College
- Sam Jowers-RojasLoot; The Net; Contemplation
- Gary Seloff07A Water Circle; 09 Clean Sweep
- Terry FrommBalancing Act; The Wave; Shelter from the Storm
- Fran SimmonsTrilogy, Ebb, Flow & Fade · three panels
- Howard Pagewhat’s for lunch; yard angel; take off; sitting pretty
- Carolina Kelleher-RíosTwo untitled works from the series Waves of Nostalgia
- Callan ClarkAre You Not Thirsty; Hubris of Erisychthon; River Sketch; Water Birth I; Water Birth II; What Is This You Have Done
- Malachi HayesFloat Boat · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Trentan Presswood & Jaxon WatsonThe Amount of Water in the World · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Josh R.The Water Wheel · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Alizabeth Espinoza, Ererleigh Wind, Greyson Villatoro, Aczel Reyes & Liam MitchellThe Super HEB Water Cleaner · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Lucy Lester, Olivia Garcia, Kaycie Bebong & Emily HewittThe Way Water Works · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Logan HarlessThe Water Merry Go Round! · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Joseh MabeyThe Filtering Feet Water: It Filters Saltwater into Clean Water · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Caiden CarrThe Truth About Drinkable Water · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Mable, Zion & JayneThe I. This Filters the Water: It Separated It from Bigger Solids · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Braxton Totten, Jaxon Davis, Micah MiCarrich, Mark & Jack GreenWater Convaer · Dickinson Elementary Arts Program
- Jennifer McClishSpace Ghost
- Missy BendiksenNo Water, No Life, No Blue, No Green. S. Earl; No Walls in Big Bend!; Mend Your Garden; Water Is Life
- Hallie RaybournSystemic Contradiction
- Walter McNairyDrifting Adurn; (In)Complete Limbo
- Emily BiasInterconnected
- Riyah AbrahamDiscarded Pieces; Sword of an Artist
- Deb Menconi ClarkLac Johnston Loon Sanctuary
- Crystal SalinasHere, Everything’s Better; Yummy Yummy Buffet
- Jacob Duchonsprawl · three works; Growing roots · three works
- Johan PachecoStream
- Bianca Springer16,000 Gallons
The festival in motion
Many ways to encounter a story.
From collective screenings to intimate, immersive encounters, each setting opens a different route into the work.
Why we gather
Stories create connection. Connection makes change possible.
Sustainable Stories introduces communities to films and art that make complex environmental and social questions human, immediate, and memorable. The festival creates space for independent artists, international perspectives, student voices, and local dialogue.
Founded as a university-based initiative and developed through partnerships with educational and cultural organizations, the festival has grown into a recurring international program rooted in the Houston–Galveston region.
Explore our history and impact →Festival team
The people shaping the 2026 program.
The Alvin College festival and the William & Mary screening are developed by connected but distinct curatorial teams.
Michael Brims
Festival founder and 2026 co-curator for both the Alvin College program and the William & Mary screening.
Short bio
Michael Brims is a documentary filmmaker, video artist, educator, and cultural organizer whose work explores environmental issues, cultural history, and community life. He is Professor of Communication and Digital Media at the University of Houston–Clear Lake.
University profileAngela Durón-Larson
Co-curator of the complete 2026 Alvin College film and art program.
Short bio
Angela Durón-Larson is a visual storyteller through her photography and artwork, placing identity into a cultural framework. She is the Visual Arts Coordinator and photography instructor at Alvin College. She supports exhibitions and arts programming that connect students, artists, and the wider community.
Visit Angela Durón-Larson’s websiteClaudia M. Trujillo-Vargas
Co-curator of the complete 2026 Alvin College film and art program.
Short bio
Claudia M. Trujillo-Vargas is a microbiologist and researcher with the One Health Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Her scientific perspective brings public health, ecology, and the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental well-being into the festival’s curatorial conversation.
Nuestras DefensasEric Despard
Co-curator of the Williamsburg presentation of Underwater Projects.
Short bio
Eric Despard is Executive and Artistic Director of the Arts at William & Mary. An artist, musician, professor, and arts administrator, he develops collaborative programs that broaden the reach and public impact of the arts.
William & Mary profileBrent Kaup
Co-curator of the Williamsburg presentation of Underwater Projects.
Short bio
Brent Kaup is Professor of Sociology at William & Mary. His research in environmental sociology, political ecology, and political economy examines how transformations of nature affect inequality and societal well-being.
William & Mary profileFilmmaker voices
What participating filmmakers say.
Public reviews shared by filmmakers on FilmFreeway.
“A festival capable of promoting positive change and fostering natural and harmonious dialogue between films, but also between arts, cultures and genres.”
“The whole festival seems very thoughtfully programmed and well run.”
“An awesome and important festival filled with fantastic films and filmmakers.”
“Fantastic film festival — thank you for your support to the independent environmental films.”
Festival history
Festival archive
Explore programs, artists, films, awards, statistics, and photographs from earlier editions.
Sustainable
Stories
Galveston, Texas · 2027 vision
Looking ahead
A coastal destination for stories that inspire action.
Sustainable Stories is exploring a future Galveston edition centered on water, coastal resilience, environmental justice, public health, and creative exchange. The program is currently in development.
Welcome filmmakers
Bring national and international filmmakers into direct conversation with Gulf Coast audiences.
Connect place and story
Pair screenings with Galveston’s coastal landscapes, cultural life, and ecotourism.
Nurture new voices
Create educational opportunities for students and emerging filmmakers.
Build local bridges
Connect the island’s creative, educational, environmental, and community organizations.
Galveston 2027 is a proposed expansion. Dates, venues, partners, and programming will be announced as they are confirmed.
Presented with
Festival partners
Sustainable Stories grows through collaborations with educational and cultural institutions committed to art, learning, and public dialogue.
For filmmakers and artists
Share work that moves the conversation forward.
Submissions are managed through FilmFreeway. The 2026 call is closed; future calls and deadlines will be announced through the festival’s submission profile.
Visit FilmFreewayContact
Continue the story with us.
Brims@UHCL.edu
Festival partnerships, screenings, educational collaborations, and general inquiries.